History and Culture

Opened in 1888 and designed in a striking Gothic style by George Bernard Hoadley Austin of the Public Works Department of Victoria, the Carlton Courthouse stands as both a relic of Melbourne’s past and a living cultural space.

The building occupies land long cared for by the Wurundjeri Woi wurrung peoples, Traditional Custodians of Naarm Melbourne, whose connection to this place stretches back thousands of years. Their enduring presence forms the deepest layer of the site’s history, one that continues to shape its meaning today.

When the courthouse first opened, Carlton had a reputation quite different from the vibrant precinct it is now. In the late nineteenth century, it was known for its high crime rates and lively street life. Inside these walls, magistrates presided over a steady flow of cases involving petty theft, street fighting, vagrancy, and the charge of keeping a disorderly house. The court also saw more notorious figures, including Melbourne gangster Leslie 'Squizzy' Taylor, who once faced charges here for obstructing and striking a police officer.

Image source: PROV, VPRS 515/P0000, Leslie Taylor, Central Register for Male Prisoners 31530-31927. 

Architecturally, the building is distinctive. Gothic design, more commonly associated with churches, lends the courthouse an air of solemnity and authority. Pointed arches frame the recessed entrance, while stained glass and intricate detailing elevate the façade. The building’s layout reinforced the strict hierarchies of justice. Magistrates entered through one door, the public through another, and those in custody were brought in from cells at the rear. Heavy cast iron gates enclose the porch, their resemblance to prison bars offering a subtle but unmistakable reminder of the consequences that could follow a court appearance.

Photographs by Hin Lim

A glimpse into everyday life at the time comes through the voices of those who passed through its doors.

“The coppers down at Carlton knew me well. So well, that when they brought me in to question me, they knew without being told I liked my cup of tea with milk and two sugars.”
Carlton resident

For decades, the courthouse stood opposite the local police station as a symbol of law and order, a place where the dramas of human life unfolded daily. Today, it serves a very different purpose. Since the 1990s, it has been home to La Mama Theatre, hosting performances, poetry readings, and First Nations theatre. In this new role, the building continues its tradition as a place of storytelling and shared experience, now reflecting a broader and more inclusive cultural voice.

The ornate brick and stone façade remain a defining feature. Its use of polychromatic brickwork, a popular technique in the eighteen eighties, combines multiple colours to create a rich and textured surface. Today, this mosaic of bricks can be seen as a reflection of Carlton’s diversity, symbolising the many communities and cultures that shape the area.

Question
There are at least three different types of coloured bricks on the façade. Can you find them?

Photographs by Hin Lim